Life during lockdown

Completed the survey but nothing  for unpaid carers .. only thing really applicable is mental health.. 

Having completed the survey there was no option for unemployed and looking for work but unable to in the current environment.  

The options fo not cover all possibilities. 

Just filled in the survey, but no question referred to self employment. I am self employed and presently can't do my job as health practitioner due to social distancing. I live presently of my savings, but that can't go on for ever. The questionnaire did nowhere reflect my situation!

Universal Basic Income. I don't believe this will be the last of these situations. We need to have something much more robust in place, and this has been proven to offer benefit to economies and the health and well-being of citizens.

I believe as an ex teacher and a grandparent that it is crazy asking parents to teach their children. From what I've seen and heard it's not doable for younger children (maybe it is for older children) I know it would be harsh on teachers but I think the school summer holidays should be now and parks should be opened. Or children should be back in school even if only for half a day, daily ie half the class. Older privileged people like me (retired, secure income, no big health issues) are relatively unaffected by the lockdown. The young and fit should be back at work. I believe older people and those with health issues should be the only people in lockdown. And up to a point (nhs considerations being taken into account) should take responsibility for themselves. It's crazy stopping people living in cramped flats from getting out and being able to let of steam.  We should think of those in difficult home circumstances more. The survey I just filled in is largely irrelevant to me and possibly many others as it takes little account of retired people. In yet a lot of this is in place to protect the older. 

The Mayor of London and London Transport's response to providing safety for both it's workers (in particular bus drivers) and commuters has been shameful.  Too little, too late and a lot of finger pointing, denial of responsibility and blaming others.

Face masks must be provided for workers and commuters must be ordered to wear face masks when travelling on public transport (anyone can make a home-made mask).

Hand gel must be provided for workers and provided throughout the transport system for commuters to use during their journey eg. on buses, station platforms, in ticket offices etc.

Stop blaming commuters who are trying to get to work (as they have no option) as causing the problem of over-crowding on transport!! It's your responsibility to prevent this and your actions have exasperated the issue.

I think small companies who pay their directors a small salary and then dividends should be included in the furlough scheme. ( As it stands they can only furlough on the PAYE element. For most small business directors that is up to the tax threshold). It would no less complicated to work out the average earnings over three years up to a max of £2,500 pm as per the employees scheme. Plus if like me you are self employed, rental income from Airbnb is not included in your self employed income, even though you have paid Tax on it. Why not?

Employers and goverment should work together to increase statutory sick pay, I work in a care home and tested positive so obviously I'm not at work and all I will get is a max of 94.00 per week, that's disgusting, I've had to work with no ppe at times only gloves, I get ill and get forgotten, there's thousands like me, I will have to get retested before I can go back which is correct that will be 3 weeks off so 3 weeks now of debt how can I pay my rent/council tax, if I got 80% than would be fine but......... Thousands like myself will end up in debt. I know I'm lucky to still have a job but 94.00 per week is a disgrace.

I just wish everyone out walking or jogging adhered to social distancing. It's not that difficult. A lot of people don't care or else they're really stupid. Joggers are the worst though, they sometimes come up from behind, a couple of feet away breathing very heavily, it's madness.

Also, all supermarkets should have announcements every 5 minutes or so, saying to keep your distance of 2 meters. That would definitely improve things.

I'm just wondering, why the number being admitted to hospital has not dramatically gone down, after 1 month of 'lockdown'? If everyone was keeping their distance the numbers should look a lot better by now. THIS JUST SHOWS THAT EVERYONE IS NOT KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE.

AND IT ALSO BUGS ME THAT THE NEWS IS FILLED WITH THE TOPIC OF WHEN LOCKDOWN IS GOING TO EASE. THE PANEL ON TV AT 4pm/5pm DAILY SAY SO MANY WORDS TO ANSWER THIS. THE ONLY WORDS TO SAY ARE…. WE WILL EASE LOCKDOWN WHEN THE NUMBER BEING ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL FALLS TO HALF WHAT IT IS NOW. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.    

NOTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID - KEEP IT SIMPLE, MAKE IT SMART.

We must learn from what has happened.  Obviously, we should have been much more prepared for something like this.  We should have beem more proactive - testing, tracing contacts etc.  

Two of my children have been working from home for the last few weeks, quite efficiently.  Surely in future, it would benefit everyone if working from home was encouraged and expanded.  It would mean less travel time, fewer journeys, less congestion, less pollution, less stress for workers etc.  So many benefits.  We need to rethink the way we work.  David Attenborough said the same thing in a recent article and it does surely make sense.

I have a small factory in Southwark employing 6 people, all live in London, my factory has be given notice of closure to make way for residential properties to help with the housing crisis. We have looked for alternative factory premises, but there is none, as all factory space is under the pressure. 

London needs some factory space, not just flats and residential space. Over 9 million people live in London, 10 million people live in the whole of Sweden which is nearly twice the size of the whole UK.

The government need to clarify the impact of their Job Retention Scheme on standard Employment Laws to date. 
 

For those earning above the upper limit of £2,500 per month, this puts them and their families in a precarious situation. 
For example:  If the government decides to allow nurseries/schools to operate before all industries are allowed to return to operation, and stop the Job Retention Scheme all at the same time, a full time parent would need to forfeit their child's place at nursery due to their lack of income, which would mean a return to work would be impossible. Nurseries for example can have 10 month waiting lists for places. 
This means more and more parents will involuntarily be out of work, with little way of getting back into the work place because of this catch 22 situation. 
What provisions are the government making to avoid such people being thrown out of the workplace and contributing to the economy?

I am a medical Dr from South Africa however am not registered in UK. I am 59 and been living here two years. I play music for a living right now and have been unemployed since March as I played for two five star hotels and both have closed and I was employed as a contractor. I have done my tax returns. And have applied for UC but cannot understand what the government is going to do for self employed people. It seems very vague. 
i have not paid rent and find it very difficult to know when I will be able to return to work as I'm 59 and a high risk person as I had a cardio version done 8 yrs ago and am very susceptible to getting this Virus. All savings have gone and now it's dependant on the government. Can anybody shed some light 

I work in children social care as a social worker and manager. There needs to be PPE to enable social workers the opportunity to fulfill their statutory functions and ensure children are safe. COVID has provided an opportunity for parents to be evasive and avoidant as parents tell social workers that we are not complying with the government advice to stay at home by coming into their homes.

social care continues to be side lined

I agree with all of the above...clarity is required and compassion. 

What happens to higher risk self employed such as mild Asthmatics, who work close up with the public when lockdown restrictions lesson? 

If they aren't classed as severely vulnerable but higher risk they will need to adhere to social distancing more than others. If they then have the added risk of close up work will they be allowed to continue receiving UV or self employed support? Will they be allowed to remain safe and not be forced to work with higher risk factors or will their support stop when everyone that isn't shielding is told to? I fear for people in this situation. I am one of them. 

I want to see the George cross for nhs workers that died. I want to see them have pay increases and their student debts wiped off. I want to see councelling services boosted in all unities and regards education so more councellors can access training and qualify. 

So much to be done from this! 

I need to go back to work. I do not believe it is right that the economy and our children's future is being destroyed by lockdown policy.

I have asthma but would rather live live than live like this.  There is no guarantee that a vaccine will be found, all other medical conditions seems to have been forgotten about.  This is no way to live